Reuters
Kolkata, June 20: India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has offered a positive feedback on the pink ball in Indian conditions, after it was used on an experimental basis during a domestic club game at Eden Gardens.
In April, the BCCI had decided that one game of an upcoming three-Test series against New Zealand would be a day-night affair, pending trials of the pink ball.
The 26-year-old, who picked up five wickets playing for Mohun Bagan in the day-night final, said South Asian conditions favoured swing with the pink ball, which definitely is an exciting prospect.
“With red and white balls, there were some visibility problem as it took (on) the colour of grass,” Shami was quoted as saying by the local media here.
“Definitely I will prefer this (pink) ball, this is much better. The biggest plus point is (the swing) under lights, what else does a bowler want? It’s challenging for both batsmen and bowlers. If we can maintain the dryness, I’m sure it will reverse. It did (reverse), I noticed.”
Wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha echoed Shami’s sentiments but said pace would prove challenging for batsmen.
“Every ball is swinging a bit either way which was never the case with the red (ball). The visibility is perfect,” Saha stated. “But batsmen will have problem if a pacer consistently bowls at 140 km per hour. It is one thing to handle swing, but it turns a different ball game the moment a bowler consistently bowls at 140-plus and also swings the ball. Then life really turns difficult for batsmen.”